Ordered, That the Reverend Messrs. Daven-
port, Patterson, McNamar and Owens, be re-
quested to be present alternatively, at each
of the sessions of this Convention, and open
the same with prayer.
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE submitted the following
order:
Ordered, That the President of this Con-
vention be requested to increase the Commit-
tee on the Judiciary Department, by adding
thereto two members;
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE statics he had offered this
order under the direction of the committee.
The order was agreed to.
The PRESIDENT appointed Messrs. Thruston
and Daniel, in accordance with the above
order.
Mr. SNEARY submitted the following order :
Ordered, that the Treasurer of the State of
Maryland, upon the order of the President of
this Convention, pay to Alfred Miller, who
has been temporarily discharging the duties
of Page, the per diem and mileage allowed
to the permanent Pages, for the number of
days of service which he may have rendered;
Which was adopted.
Mr. PURNELL submitted the following order:
Ordered, That the Committee to consider
and report respecting the Elective Franchise,
be instructed to inquire into the expediency
of incorporating into the Constitution all
article extending the right of suffrage to sol-
diers, drafted or enlisted from this State into
the service of the United States, and who
may be out of this State, and in the service
of the United States at the time of any elec-
tion in this State, and that the Legislature at
its next session provided by law for the
holding of an election in the regiments to
which such soldiers may belong, under such
restrictions and regulations as may be deem-
ed necessary to guard the purity of the ballot-
box.
Mr. SANDS stated that the Committee
already had that subject under consideration.
The order was adopted.
Mr. MARKEY submitted the following order:
Ordered, That the Committee on the Judi-
ciary inquire into the expediency of giving to
the Orphans' Courts of the several counties
and the city of Baltimore jurisdiction over
the real estate of persons dying intestate
where the valuation thereof does not exceed
the sum of three thousand dollars.
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE. I have no objection
whatever to the order which is proposed if it
be understood that they shall not be pre-
cluded from giving the Orphans' Courts
jurisdiction when the amount is larger than
$3,000, if they see fit,
The order was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. MAYHUGH,
Ordered, That the Committee on the Leg-
islative Department be directed to inquire
into the expediency of providing for the dis-
posal of the incorporate stocks of the State.
|
On motion of Mr. RIDGELY,
Ordered, That the Committee on the Judi-
ciary, consider whether by abolishing the
fees of office, and the substitution of some
other mode of compensation, or otherwise,
the character of the office of Justice of the
Peace, may not be elevated and the adminis-
tration of the office to be made more efficient
and faithful.
BASIS OF REPRESENTATION.
The Convention proceeded to the consider-
ation of the following resolution submitted by
Mr. BELT on Monday last :
Resolved, That if the principle contained
in the resolution of the gentleman from Wash-
ington county be correct, in asserting that,
under a republican system, population is the
true basis of representation, excluding all
classes not endowed with the right of suf-
frage, then the authors of the Constitution of
the United States, were uninformed of the
principles of republicanism, in that they ad-
mitted all free persons, and even a large pro-
portion of slaves as within the basis upon
which the States are represented in the Fed-.
eral Congress.
Mr. BELT moved that 'his resolution be re-
ferred to the Committees on the Basis of Rep-
resentation.
Mr. RIDGELY. It strikes me, sir, that that
proposition is not strictly in order. It does
not present any subject for the consideration
of this body, for inquiry or for legislation.
It is the mere argument of the gentleman who
proposed it; and it is submitted to the body
as an argument, in its form, and not as a
question to be considered by the committee—
not as a matter for the substantive legislative
action of the Convention. It is a mere isola-
ted independent abstract inquiry, in no way
connected with the deliberations of this body
on any subject before it. I respectfully sug-
gest therefore that it is not strictly in order.
Mr. CHAMBERS. I hope my friend from
Prince George's will withdraw his resolution,
Mr. BELT. I had supposed that any prop-
osition made here in good faith would at least
receive the courtesy of a nominal reference to
a committee. Whether it is a substantive
principle or not, it carries with it something
by way of principle, and is a proposition tor
the consideration of the committee. If there
is the least objection to it, of course I will not
press it.
Mr. RIDGELY. Before it is withdrawn allow
me to say, at once and in advance, that I trust
I shall ever be controlled by the nicest sense
of courtesy and delicacy towards my brethren
here in the whole course of my action in this
body. I have not been influenced in the most
remote degree, by any feeling inconsistent
with this, but made the suggestion simply to
relieve this body, in the press of its business,
from a subject not legitimately for its consid-
eration.
Mr. BELT withdrew the resolution. |
